Lattice based seat cushion to improve comfort and vibration isolation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10479246-B2
Application number	US-201715581701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

Seats in vehicles may include a seat cushion having a seating surface, a vibration isolation structure and a foam structure, with the seating surface configured to support an occupant. The seat cushion may include either a seat bottom or a seat back, with the vibration isolation structure configured to evenly distribute forces exerted by the occupant. The vibration isolation structure may include a plurality of individual lattice blocks. The plurality of individual lattice blocks may occupy a pattern based on a spatial weight distribution of an average-sized occupant or a pattern based on a spatial weight distribution tailored for a specific occupant. The plurality of individual lattice blocks may cooperate to provide the even pressure distribution against forces exerted by the occupant. The vibration isolation structure may isolate vibration in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 5.0 Hz.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising a seat cushion having:
a seating surface configured to support an occupant;
a vibration isolation structure comprising a plurality of individual lattice blocks, the plurality of individual lattice blocks comprising a bi-stable lattice and forming a two-dimensional lamina, the vibration isolation structure defining a first surface and opposite second surface, wherein the plurality of individual lattice blocks occupy a pattern that is based on a spatial weight distribution of an average-sized occupant, and each of the plurality of individual lattice blocks has a stiffness value based upon a location in the pattern such that the plurality of individual lattice blocks cooperate to provide an even pressure distribution against forces exerted by the occupant; and
a foam structure placed adjacent the first surface of the vibration isolation structure,
wherein the vibration isolation structure exhibits an overall negative stiffness value configured to enhance a vibrational energy absorbance of the seat cushion in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 5.0 Hz.

2. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat cushion is a seat bottom and the vibration isolation structure is configured to evenly distribute forces exerted by the occupant in a generally vertical direction.

3. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat cushion is a seat back and the vibration isolation structure is configured to evenly distribute forces exerted by the occupant in a generally horizontal direction.

4. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the bi-stable lattice comprises a double concentric beam structure moveable between two stable configurations, each configuration defining a different shape.

5. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual lattice blocks occupy a pattern that is based on a spatial weight distribution tailored for a specific occupant.

6. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the individual lattice blocks have a negative stiffness value.

7. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the vibration isolation structure exhibits an overall negative stiffness value configured to enhance a vibrational energy absorbance of the seat cushion of about 2.5 Hz.

8. A seat assembly for a vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:
a seat frame;
a seat cushion comprising a seat bottom coupled to the seat frame, the seat cushion having:
a seating surface configured to support an occupant;
a vibration isolation structure comprising a plurality of individual lattice blocks, the plurality of individual lattice blocks forming a two-dimensional lamina, the plurality of individual lattice blocks occupying a pattern based on a spatial weight distribution of an average occupant such that each of the plurality of individual lattice blocks has a stiffness value based upon a location in the pattern such that the plurality of individual lattice blocks cooperate to provide a negative stiffness against forces exerted by the occupant,
wherein the vibration isolation structure exhibits an overall negative stiffness value configured to enhance a vibrational energy absorbance of the seat cushion in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 5.0 Hz.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of individual lattice blocks comprises a double concentric beam structure moveable between two stable configurations, each configuration defining a different shape.

10. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of individual lattice blocks cooperate to isolate a predetermined vibration of the seat cushion.

11. A method of isolating a predetermined vibration of a custom seat cushion of a vehicle, the method comprising:
obtaining a spatial weight distribution for a specific occupant on a seating surface;
creating a pattern correlating the spatial weight distribution for the specific occupant with individual lattice blocks having a bi-stable lattice and having different stiffness values based upon a location in the pattern, such that forces exerted by the specific occupant are evenly distributed across the custom seat cushion;
forming a vibration isolation structure comprising a plurality of individual lattice blocks arranged according to the pattern; and
incorporating the vibration isolation structure in a custom seat cushion such that the custom seat cushion exhibits a negative stiffness to isolate the predetermined vibration,
wherein the vibration isolation structure exhibits an overall negative stiffness value configured to enhance a vibrational energy absorbance of the seat cushion in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 5.0 Hz.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising aligning at least one foam support structure adjacent the vibration isolation structure.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Meingast Herbert
• Gorguluarslan Recep M
• Gandhi Umesh
• Pinkelman Brian J

Classifications

• F16F2224/0225

  Cellular, e.g. microcellular foam · CPC title

• B60N2/7094 Primary

  Upholstery springs · CPC title

• F16F2228/063

  Negative stiffness · CPC title

• B60N2/7017

  characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing upholstery or upholstery springs not otherwise provided for · CPC title